Al-Jazeera goes dark in India

Government officials in India have taken Al-Jazeera English off the air after claiming it was broadcasting incorrect maps of the disputed region of Kashmir.

India claims maps used by the Qatar-Based channel are incorrect and show the area as being divided between Pakistan, India and China.

Kashmir is claimed by both India and Pakistan but has technically been divided since 1948. However, maps controlled by the Indian government show the entire state as part of Indian territory.

Al-Jazeera aired a blue screen yesterday with a sign saying it would not be available until Monday under the orders of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Anmol Saxena, the channel’s bureau chief in India, told the AFP news agency he was hopeful of having the order revoked.

The dispute over Kashmir has bought India and Pakistan to war on three separate occasions.